Slub catcher



P. B. LEWIS July 17, 1951 SLUB CATCHER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 15, 1949 en-:2 5. Laws INVENTOR.

' Arrow/ 51 Patented July 17, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I SLUB CATCHER PeterBrLewis, Aberdeen, N. 0., assignor toRob- .bins ClothMills, .Inc., .Rbbins,.N. (3., a corporation of North Carolina Application June 15, 1949;:Serial-2No. 99,177

...'2.iClaims.

l -This invention-relates to an :improved. slub catcher of atype: such assisxcommonly. used: on

cone winding machines and the like.

,It is an objectof thisrinvention" torprovide a A leaf spring-blade: extends; downthe-yarnzto break and: to thereby-.activate-.the

. stopmotion mechanism of the winder, not shown, and prevent a slub from-beingiwwoundonto "the package with therestof the yarn.

It is another object ofthis inventionztoprovide an apparatus of the-type describedewith a reisilient blade and a cam'rmember. engagingythe bladeyon the side thereof nearest: the ,direction from which the yarn is being drawn to thus-hold the lower end of the blade at predetermined distance fromithe upper surface of the anvil. The cam is adjustable :so as-to provide for-.various sizesor countsof yarnand to permit-predetermined sizes of. slubs to pass beneath the same, if so desiredmvhile others of the.slubs-would engage .the blade,v thus. moving the bladednto. engagement with the. anvil-to sever the .yarn, The ,blade at its upper end has a centrally located ..slot to increase itsifiexibility but without allowing, the, blade to, twist-on its longitudinalaxis.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated,.other; objects will appear ,as'the description proceeds; when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure liis atop plan view of a islub catcher .embodying my improved structure;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional viewthroughthe slub-catcher taken substantially along the line 2--2 inFigure '1;

*Figure 3 is-aschematic showing-ofjtheright- "hand central portion of Figure-2 and'showing the manner in which thespring blade catches a slub in the yarn "passing-between the lower edge of the-same-andthe anvil;

Figure 4-is a vertical sectional view'showing the blade and'the mounting therefor-in elevation and is taken-along the line 4-4 in Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a side-elevation of the slub catcher llookingsubstantially'along the line -55- in ;-=Figure-4;

'iFigure 6 is a-view similar to Figure 3,:-.but

ishowing the cam bar for holdingthe'blade a predetermined distancexfrom the anvil in a: difieb ent-z adjusted. position.

"Referring more specifically to the drawingsthe slub;;catcher is herein shown as a bracket or frame broadly designated at iii which 'may be of'cast metal and'whichwcomprises a pair of substantially parallel longitudinally extending side portions It and i2, both of which are curved upwardly at their left-hand ends in Figures 1 and 2, and at their right-hand ends in Figure: 5.

The side portion 5 i then has an inwardly curved :portion l3-integral therewith which is integral at its inner end with a downwardly and inwardly projecting portion l4. Thezside portion l2 also :hasa; downwardly and'inw'ardly projecting portion l5-Whl0h converges relative to the portion l4 and is joined. to the same and thusformsa slot ll between the portions. M and i5 forinserting a strand of yarn Y. in a thread guide or poteye 2B,.preferably of porcelain material, and up- .wardly through which the yarn Y passes from a suitable. bobbin, not shown.

'The yarn thenimoves forwardly from the poteye?--2@ in Figures 1 and 2-and passes .between conventional cup-shaped, yarn tensionmembers 22 and 23 loosely mounted on a post 2 3, the lower end ofwhichisithreadably imbedded in a spider- 'like central portion 25 of the slub catcher frame H). A conventional shock absorbing disk 2'! is supported inthe upper cup-shaped tension memberi23 and, in turn, supports a conventional weight disk '28, both the members 27 and 28 being loosely mounted on the post 24.

The side portion 12 has a resilient arm portion 38 integral therewith which extends from 'near the front end of the side portion-l2 in Figures 1 and 2 to the rear of theframe Ill and has an upper gate portion 32 integral therewith which may'beiadjustably spaced apart; from a lower gateportionlSB;integral:with andbridging the side portions it and I2,'by an adjustment screw 35.

The side portion H2 in Figure2-also hasadownwardly extending bearing portion 31 integral therewith whichis provided with a bore til for reception of a conventional'bracket supporting 1321131101] shown, of a spooler or winding *machinesuch as a Foster winder.

-The structure thus far described embodies only Y the conventional parts of a slub catcher, and it is'with these parts that the present invention is adapted to be associated.

The side portion I 2 of most slub catchers usually has-an upwardly projecting portion H 'which supports a-conventional laterally extend.

3 ing thread guiding rod 42. In the present instance, the upwardly projecting portion 4| also has the restricted end of a suitable anvil 44 fixedly secured therein as by a set screw 45 (Figure 5), this anvil 44 having a flat upper surface 46 over which the yarn Y is adapted to pass.

The yarn Y is then threaded beneath the rod 42' and between the upper and lower gate portions 32 and 33 of the bracket I and passes therebetween in the direction indicated by the arrows in Figures 1, 2 and 3. The other end of'the anvil 44, or the right-hand end thereof in Figure 4, is supported on the longitudinally extending side portion II of the bracket H].

The resilient arm portion 30 of the bracket I!) has an upwardly projecting post 41 integral therewith which is disposed closely adjacent the upper gate portion 32 and which is provided with a tongue or ridge 50 which is adaptedto slidably receive a mating grooved block member mounted for vertical adjustment against the upwardly projecting post 41. The block 5| has a vertical adjustment slot 52 therein which is slidably penetrated by a screw 53 for securing the block 5| in adjusted position against the left-hand face of the upwardly projecting post 4! in Figure 2.

To assist in adjusting the block 5| relative to the portion 4?, the screw 53 is tightened snugly against the outer surface of the block 5!, with the upper end of the block 5| being disposed at a slightly higher elevation relative to the post 4'! than is desired, and then a screw 55, threadably imbedded in the upper end of the post 41, is

tightened against the upper end of the member 5| to thus move the same downwardly until the lower edge of a spring steel blade 55, to be later described, has moved to a predetermined distance from the upper surface 45 of the anvil 44. The screw 53 is then driven home to hold the block 5| in this adjusted position.

The block 5| also has a vertical slot 55 therein which extends downwardly from the upper end thereof. The blade 5| also has a transverse slot 5'! therein which is of sufficient depth to permit a portion 50, defined by the slots 55 and 51, to be moved inwardly toward the block 5|, by a screw 5|, which slidably penetrates the portion 55 and is threadably imbedded in the block 5|. The reason for moving the portion 55 inwardly is to clamp a blade supporting pivot pin 52 in the block 5|, the blade supporting arm 52 slidably penetrating said block 5|, and having a screw driver slot 53 therein for adjusting the blade supporting arm 62 on its axis and to thereby increase or decrease the tension in the spring steel blade 65 which is carried by the blade supporting arm 62.

The blade supporting arm 62 is positioned.

rearwardly of the vertical plane of the longitudinal axis of the anvil and the blade 65 extends downwardly and forwardly at a slight angle, say 8 degrees, from the arm 52 and has a centrally located vertically extending slot 5'|.-

blade 55. The blade 55 is clampingly secured to the arm 62 by a bar 10 which is secured to the blade supporting arm 52 as by screws (Figures 3 and 4) It has already been stated how the blade 65 is vertically adjustable so as to position the lower J edge of the same a predetermined distance above the upper surface 46 of the anvil 44 according to the size or count of yarn adapted to be passed therebetween. By forming the slot Bl in the center of the blade 65 the desired strength of the blade is determined, yet the blade, on account of having its side edge portions intact, prevents twisting of the blade along its longitudinal axis in the event a slub is caught by the blade 85 near one of its lower corners Now, to further insure that the distance between the lower edge of the blade 65 and the upper surface 46 of the anvil 44 may be maintained and to provide for varying the amount of tension in the blade 55, which tension must be overcome by a slub portion Y-| or an elongated thick place Y-2 in the yarn Y, a horizontally disposed cam bar 15, having a cam face 16 on its side nearest the blade 55, is positioned to extend across the front surface of the spring blade 65.

This cam member 75 has a restricted end portion 1'! which slidably penetrates the resilient arm portion 30 of the bracket l0 and has a nut threadably mounted on its outer end to thus lock the cam member 15 in an adjusted position. The other end of the cam member 75 has a screw driver slot 8| therein and by inserting a screw driver in the slot 8| and loosening the nut slightly on the restricted portion 11, the cam member 15 may be adjusted, as to angularity of its face 15, to thus insure that the lower end of the blade 55 will normally remain in a predetermined position relative to the longitudinal axis of the anvil 44. The cam bar 15 will also permit the tension in the spring blade 55 to be increased by partially rotating the blade supporting arm 62 in a clockwise direction in Figure 2. Thus, through cooperating adjustment of the vertically adjustable block 5|, the blade supporting bar 62 and the cam bar 15, the lower edge of the blade 65 may be adjusted to a predetermined position relative to the upper surface 45 of the anvil 44 and a predetermined amount of tension in the spring steel blade 55 may be maintained at its lower edge, which must be overcome by slub portions Y| or Y2 or other projections on the yarn Y, moving against the blade65 as shown in Figure 3.

Obviously, upon the slub portions Y-l or Y-2 engaging the lower edge of the blade 55, the blade will be biased to the right as shown in Figure 3, and since the blade is positioned slightly off center in a vertical plane relative to the axis of the anvil 44, the lower edge of the blade will engage the top surface 45 of the anvil 44 thus clamping the yarn therebetween and causing the yarn to break between its clamping point and the package, not shown, on which the yarn is being wound.

There have been other attempts made to provide for theuse of a spring steel or flexible blade for severing or breaking the yarn upon the blade being contacted by a slub or projection in the yarn; however none of these has proved success- 111 or efiicient, due to the fact that parts have been positioned rearwardly or away from the direction of travel of the yarn relative to the blade,

fiposition with :respect to the blade 65 towardthe idirection from-which theyarn is travelling as it passes --.beneath the lower edge of the blade.

It is seen that itwould then be impossible for lint I to collect rearwardly-of: the blade, inasmuch as ctivev sense only; and not for purposes of limitation, thenscope of the invention being defined in the claims.

I claim: 1.- A slubcatcher; for textile yarns comprising a: bracketv adapted to be mounted 'in' a substantially horizontal plane and having a resilient arm at one-side thereof: disposed in a substantiallyparallel-relation'to the bracket, an anvil -extending laterally across said bracket and having a-fiatqupper-v surface-\across-which the yarn is adapted to pass, an upwardly projecting post integral with- 'said arm, a vertically adjustable block mounted on the upwardly projecting post, an arm extendinglaterally from the vertically .adjustable block and. being: disposed. slightly offset from a vertical plane .passing through the anvil, a cam bar extending, in spaced parallel relation to the anvil andbeing-disposed between the anvil and the bar extending from said block, a resilient bladeextendingifrom the bar and terminating in slightly .spaced relation to the upper surface of the anvil, the surface of the blade facing the source from which the yarn is moving being adapted to normally engage the cam member whereby, upon a slub portion in the yarn engaging said blade as the yarn passes between the lower edge of the blade and the anvil, the lower edge of the blade will be drawn away from the cam bar and into engagement with the anvil to clamp the yarn therebetween and to cause it to break under tension.

2. A slub catcher for yarn traveling therethrough comprising a bracket adapted to be mounted in a substantially horizontal position and having an upwardly projecting post integral therewith, a blade supporting arm extending laterally from said upwardly extending post and an inherently resilient blade having its upper end secured to and depending from said blade supporting arm, the blade having a longitudinally extending slot in its upper end to increase the flexibility of the blade, a laterally extending anvil disposed closely adjacent the lower end of said blade and over which the yarn is adapted to pass, means for adjusting said blade as to angularity relative to the vertical, so that a projection in the yarn, upon attempting to pass beneath the lower edge of said blade, will engage the blade to urge the same into engagement with the upper surface of the anvil thus clamping the yarn therebetween, and causing the yarn to break, and adjustable stop means for arresting movement of the lower end of the blade in a direction towards the source of the yarn.

3. A slub catcher for yarn traveling therethrough comprising a bracket adapted to be mounted in a substantially horizontal position and having an upwardly projecting post integral therewith, a blade supporting arm extending laterally from said upwardly extending post and a leaf spring blade having its upper end secured to and depending from said blade supporting arm,

. thebl-adebeing rectangularin shape and having a longitudinallyextending and centrally disposed .slot extending from its upper endto a point re- -moved-from the lower edge of the blade, at laterally extending anvil disposed closely, adjacent the lower end of said blade and over which-the yarn is adapted topass, means for adjusting said blade as to angularity-relative to the vertical, so :that. a projection in the yarn, upon attempting to pass beneath the loweredge of said blade will *engage therblade to urge the'same into engage- .of said-anviL; the-blade having a longitudinally til ment with theupper surface'ofthe anvil thus clampingtheyarn therebetween, and causing the yarn to break, and adjustable stop means for arrestingmovernent of the lower end of the blade in aedirection towardsthe source of the :yarn.

' 4:. In a yarnguiding apparatus having a frame adapted to bemounted in a substantially horizontal plane and-through which yarnis adapted to bepassed, slub catching means therefor-comprising an anviLmounted in the frame and over which the yarn is adapted to pass, a leaf spring -blade,,-means on the bracket for mounting the upper-end of the blade with its lower end in predetermined-spaced relation to the uppersurface extending slot in its upper-end to, increase the flexibility of ,the blade, means adjustable towards and away from the blade and normally engaging the surface; ofssaid. blade nearest the source of yarn tolimitmovement of the lower edge of theblade towards thesource of yarntwhereby, upon a projection innthe'yarn attemptingtto pass between the-.lowenedge ofsaid blade and the upper surface of -theanvil,;, the projection will move the blade away from the said means normally engaging the surface of the blade to thus clamp the yarn between the lower edge of the blade and the anvil and whereupon further attempts to pull the yarn past the lower edge of the blade will cause the yarn to break.

5. In a yarn guiding apparatus having a frame adapted to be mounted in a substantially horizontal plane and through which yarn is adapted to be passed, slub catching means therefor comprising an anvil mounted in the frame and over which the yarn is adapted to pass, a leaf spring blade, an oscillable pivot pin on the bracket for mounting the upper end of the leaf spring blade with its lower end in predetermined spaced relation to the upper surface of said anvil, the blade being rectangular in shape and having a longitudinally extending and centrally disposed slot extending from its upper end to a point removed from the lower edge of the blade, means adjustable towards and away from the blade normally engaging the surface of said blade nearest the source of yarn to assist in nbrmally holding the lower edge of the blade in fixed relation to the anvil means for securing the oscillable pivot pin against oscillation and to hold it against the means normally engaging its surface next to the source of yarn whereby, upon a projection in the yarn attempting to pass between the lower edge of said blade and the upper surface of the anvil, the projection will move the blade away from the said means normally engaging the surface of the blade to thus clamp the yarn between the lower edge of the blade and the anvil and whereupon further attempts to pull the yarn past the lower edge of the blade will cause the yarn to break.

6. A slub catcher for textile yarns comprising a bracket adapted to be mounted in a substantially horizontal plane and having a resilient arm at one side thereof disposed in substantially parallel relation to the bracket, an anvil extending laterally across said bracket and having a flat upper surface across which the yarn is adapted to pass, an upwardly projecting post integral with said arm, a vertically adjustable block mounted on the upwardly projecting post, an arm extending laterally from the vertically adjustable block and being disposed slightly ofi-set from a vertical plane passing through the anvil, a cam bar extending in spaced parallel relation to the anvil and being disposed between the anvil and'the bar extending from said block, a resilient blade extending from the bar and terminating in slightly spaced relation to the upper surface of the anvil, the blade having a longitudinally extending slot in its upper end to increase the flexibility of the blade, the surface of the blade facing the source from which the yarn is moving being adapted to normally engage the cam member whereby, upon a slub portion in the yarn engaging said blade as the yarn passes between the lower edge of the blade and the anvil, the lower edge of the blade will be drawn away from the cam bar and into engagement with the anvil to clamp the yarn therebetween and to cause it to break under tension.

'7. A slub catcher for textile yarns comprising a bracket adapted to be mounted in a substantially horizontal plane and having a resilient arm at one side thereof disposed in substantially parallel relation to the bracket, an anvil extending laterally across said bracket and having a flat upper surface across which the yarn is adapted to pass, an upwardly projecting post integral with said arm, a vertically adjustable block mounted on the upwardly projecting post, an arm extending laterally from the vertically adjustable block and being disposed slightly off-set from a vertical plane passing through the anvil, a cam bar extending in spaced parallel relation to the anvil and being disposed between the anvil and the bar extending from said block, a resilient blade extending from the bar and terminating in slightly spaced relation to the upper surface of the anvil, the blade being rectangular in shape and having a longitudinally extending and centrally disposed slot extending from its upper end to a point removed from the lower edge of the blade, the surface of the blade facing the source from which the yarn is moving being adapted to normally engage the cam member whereby, upon a slub portion in the yarn engaging said blade as the yarn passes between the lower edge of the blade and the anvil, the lower edge of the blade will be drawn away from the cam bar and into engagement with the anvil to clamp the yarn therebetween and to cause it to break under tension.

PETER. B. LEWIS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,813,049 Hasbronck July 7, 1931 1,897,518 Humphrey Feb. 14, 1933 

